Dana Milbank Live

I'm in high spirits right now because I've just spoken with the inimitable Haley Crum, producer of this and other washingtonpost.com chats, about our plans to perform karaoke this evening with other Posties. She sounded somewhat enthusiastic about this, probably because she has never heard me sing. Now accepting song suggestions.

We should also talk about the just-posted column on Charlie Rangel, Newt Gingrich's presidential prospects, Herman Cain's attempts to speak Cuban and not to speak about Libya, and anything else that delights or troubles you.

I agree with you that Newt won't last, but not because he's too moderate. He won't last because he has no real belief for people to grab on to. Is he a moderate or an anti-Obama conservative? Is he against Cap and Trade, because I remember a commercial with Nancy Pelosi when he was for it. Is he going to change Medicare and turn it into a voucher program or not? Nobody can pin down Newt and therefore no one really can support him.

A: Dana Milbank

There are many, many reasons why Newt won't last. I chose only one element -- his cozying up with Sharpton, Kerry, Pelosi, Hillary et al -- that should be particularly difficult for the Iowa Republican caucus goers to swallow. I was on Laura Ingraham's radio show yesterday and was impressed by the extent to which she and the WSJ's Dorothy Rabinowitz were enthusiastic about Newt. Truthfully I hope they're correct, because if I can't have the Hermanator as the nominee the comedy gods should at least be good enough to give me Newt.

Rick Perry seems to epitomize the saying, "better to keep your mouth shut and have people suspect that you're stupid, rather than opening it and confirming." He could've stayed as an influential Republican governor, a force to be reckoned with in the GOP circles, but instead, he chose to run and 1) demolished whatever legacy he may have had; 2) just about killed any future political aspirations, 3) uhh.. uhhh... I don't remember the third. (Not very original, I know)

A: Dana Milbank

Yeah, seems like one big oopsie now. This raises an interesting question, though. Is it better to be:

1) unknown and obscure?

or

2) famous but a laughingstock?

The all-press-is-good-press theory argues for the latter but I'd think he'd have to wish he remained a big and not obviously dumb fish in a smaller pond.

Do you shove an apple in its mouth or just pack its rear with a bunch of cabbage stuffing? I"m still undecided. We might go vegetarian this year. Ta.. Mama Stamberg w. cranberry relish

A: Dana Milbank

I am fearful that this question has some double entendres that I'm missing.

As discussed last week, Newt has been very helpful to my dieting (picture him, and hunger abates). At any rate, I'm heading to Puerto Rico with my family for Thanksgiving, so I, too, will be dining on non-traditional holiday fare.

I'm having a hard time lately recognizing the difference lately between satire and reality. The funniest part of the SNL opening skit last week on the GOP debate is when they quoted Perry verbatim on his "oops" moment. The multiple Cain moments have also wandered into self-parody. Is this making your job easier or harder?

A: Dana Milbank

Very shrewd question. Was discussing this the other day with Alexandra Petri, who writes a humor blog for the Post. I think the answer is clear: the absurdity of this campaign makes our jobs harder, not easier. You can't satirize a satire.

The Hermanator's campaign says he needs "protection form the media" in the form of the Secret Service. So, I am paying to protect him from pesky questioners?

A: Dana Milbank

If Herman Cain is to survive politically, it is very important that nobody hears a word he says from now on, or sees him in that hat. If the Secret Service can make sure nobody can see or hear Herman Cain, I think they will have done all taxpayers a valuable service.

Are you and Ms. chat producer Haley going to sing together? Like a duet? Or is she going to produce your performance too? Can she autotune?

A: Dana Milbank

It's a bit of a mystery to me. Apparently there is a group of young, digitally oriented Posties who have a secret listserve. But unlike, say, that "journo-list" list, this is about things such as karaoke. I have requested emeritus status in this young persons' organization but I have as yet not been accepted. Evidently they do not consider 43 to be as young as I do.

I'm a conservative woman and there is no one, other than Jon Huntsman, that I'm even mildly interested in and from what I can tell, there's not a snowball's chance of him being the nominee. I'm thinking it will be the first time in my voting life that I won't vote. I find it absolutely depressing and I know I'm not alone.

The Post had a headline this week "Cain dream team: Kissinger, Bolton and Ryan". I understand why he'd want the former Secretary of State but what do Michael Bolton and Meg Ryan have to offer a federal campaign?

I've been puzzling this one, but even AC/DC and Whitesnake can't quite match the Hermantor's style. Blowfly, perhaps?

A: Dana Milbank

Perhaps I'm asking the wrong question here. Maybe we should be asking ourselves which Karaoke tune each of the candidates would choose, other than Mitt's obvious choice of the aforementioned Who Let the Dogs Out.

Now that Haley is tying my singing performance to my potential to post on the Young Persons' Listserve, I'm thinking I may need to pack the audience tonight. Is anybody out there available for this purpose?

What do you think about a 1% minimum Net Worth tax. I want to get the occupy movement to focus on fair taxes. I do not care what or how you pay or don't pay taxes but if you are not paying 1% of your net worth you are not paying your share. I say the movement should be focusing on 1% for the 1%.

A: Dana Milbank

I am all for a 1 percent Newt worth tax. And 10 percent on his Tiffany purchases.

When I was in the Navy (70s), a group of mine wandered all over San Juan one night trying to find the place w. the best Pina Coladas (Navy grogs are good, too). I don't remember what conclusions we formed or how I got back to the ship. Just so you know, we were all in engineering: nuclear power.
Thought I'd share that with you. Sleep easy knowing who's protecting you.
Thanks much. HLB (Mt. Lebanon, PA)

A: Dana Milbank

I intend to follow in your footsteps (the pina colada quest, not the nuclear engineering).

Dana Milbank reviews the political theater of the nation's capital in his editorial-page column. His most recent book is "Tears of a Clown: Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagging of America;" his other books are "Homo Politicus" (Doubleday, 2008) and "Smashmouth" (Basic Books, 2001).
Milbank joined The Post as a political reporter in 2000 and wrote the "Washington Sketch" column for nearly six years. He lives in Washington with his wife and daughter.
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